“In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls,
Mahmoud Darwish, translated by Fady Joudah
I walk from one epoch to another without a memory
to guide me. The prophets over there are sharing
the history of the holy … ascending to heaven
and returning less discouraged and melancholy, because love
and peace are holy and are coming to town.”
Deliberately tracing the violence occurring in Gaza to the homelessness and injustice rife right here in the Bay Area, The Ancient Wall assembles 21 tracks of darkwave and industrial by Oakland label Psychic Eye. Taking its name from the poem “In Jerusalem” by Mahmoud Darwish (first six lines quoted above), the compilation crosses vast chasms of synth, dark and forlorn, marching steadily through deathly swaths of harmony and dissonance. Led by pounding new wave beats, sometimes led by a charming vocalist, other times accented by cawing crows, it’s very much a vibe. As of publishing, only four tracks (by topographies, A.S. Valentino, Twin Tribes, and Parallel) are available on Bandcamp, but the label says more will be added on an ongoing basis.
All proceeds from the compilation will be donated to the Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance and Rogers & Rosewater, two Bay Area-based mutual aid organizations run by refugees.
